The Trip to Spain: La Posada del Laurel

Spain really is the place to be this year, whether it’s Alex with her fantastic “Spectacular Spain” series, endless car adverts with their pristine models stretching their “legs” around our fantastic empty roads or Rob and Steve in this wonderful series.

If you haven’t seen Rob Brydon and Steve Coogan in this spoof that sees them staying in beautiful places and eating great food while supposedly working for a broadsheet with Steve writing a foodie column then you’ve missed a treat. It is amazingly low key with the guys cruising around in their Range Rover before spending time over good food and enjoying the type of conversation good friends indulge in when the wines finished and the Port is on it’s 2nd round, Great entertainment from two masters and Rob’s “Little Man in A Box” always brings a smile. The fact that this, the third series, is in Spain only adds to the joy.

This series is bing shown on Sky Atlantic on Thursdays but it is also to be found on You Tube, please try and find it, you will not be disappointed.

#spectacularspain #thetriptospain #robbrydon #stevecoogan #spainontv #fincaarboleda #The Trip to Spain: La Posada del Laurel.

TheTripToSpain
TheTripToSpain

Spectacular Spain with Alex Polizzi

This fantastic series with the lovely Alex is just down the road from us tonight. Alex visits Tabernas Desert scene of countless Westerns and blockbuster movies. Recently Exodus, Game of Thrones and Doctor Who have all had scenes filmed here. It is also very popular with the car advertisement makers, not surprising given the fantastic scenery and empty sweeping roads.

Alex promises to be in fine form as she joins in with a scene as a can-can girl at the theme park dedicated to the memory of the great Spaghetti Westerns that were filmed here.

SpectacularSpainWithAlexPolizzi
SpectacularSpainWithAlexPolizzi

Lunch At Boracay Restaurant, Garrucha.

Boracay restaurant is situated on the beach at Garrucha with tables outside or indoors. It is very stylish and modern. They do not serve a budget menu del dia but offer a wide selection of tasty tapas, raciones and fish or meat main courses.

We were a group of eight and had a selection of raciones of fish dishes, mussels, large hake balls, cod and squid all well cooked in different sauces. This was probably enough but we had already ordered a mixed paella for six people. It was quite moist, which is how I prefer it and was full of chicken and fish and decorated with mussels and prawns. Although full one of our group insisted that I join him by having a chocolate brownie! We brought home a substantial doggy bag for Stig and he gave it his approval.

Verdict? Not cheap but a lovely restaurant in a beautiful setting, the food was excellent, well served and we all enjoyed it. Certainly one for a special occasion or just pop in for a beer and tapa, you won’t regret it.

 

Dia de la Vieja (Day of the old lady)

Dia de la Vieja (Day of the old lady)

This is a very local fiesta celebrated around Mojacar, Villaricos and Vera. It takes place during lent on a Thursday, 3 weeks before Holy Thursday.

Families head off to the campo in the afternoon for a picnic, Later on piñata’s of old ladies are hung from trees and children hit them with sticks or throw rocks at them. Eventually the old lady is demolished and sweets break out from the inside and the children all run to grab them. And that is Día de la Vieja. Now aside from those wonderful things, I have no idea why it is only celebrated in our area. Most people have probably never heard of it.

A theory is that it provides light relief for the children who were taken for a day out by their Grandmothers as a treat halfway through lent, hence the sweets inside the old ladies.

Even if you miss the event you always know when it has occurred just by seeing the rubbish that has been left behind in true Spanish style !!!

piñata of old lady
piñata of old lady

 

 

 

Exhibition Of Amigurumi

On Thursday 2 March at 18.00 h. at the Convento de la Victoria, the opening of the exhibition of amigurumis “By the whim of Toñi” will be held. You can visit until 15 March, do not miss it !!!!! .

amigurumi exhibition
amigurumi exhibition

Wikipedia tells us..Amigurumi (編みぐるみ?, lit. crocheted or knitted stuffed toy) Amigurumi is the Japanese art of knitting or crocheting small, stuffed yarn creatures. The word is a portmanteau of the Japanese words ami, meaning crocheted or knitted, and nuigurumi, meaning stuffed doll. In the west are called Amigurumi, which are the original phonetics of 編みぐるみ in Japanese language. Amigurumis vary in size and there are no restrictions about size or look. While Amigurumi has been known in Japan for several decades, Amigurumi first started appealing to the masses in other countries, especially in the West, in 2003. By 2006, amigurumi were reported to be some of the most popular items on Etsy, an online craft marketplace, where they typically sold for $10 to $100. Since then, popularity has continued to increase.

#whatsoninvera